Training in the Heartland
England’s squad touched down in Kansas City on Tuesday after a 4‑2 victory over Croatia, but the real focus of the visit is not the result but the opportunity for those on the fringe.
Manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed that the players who sat out the win will train and take part in an informal match with Sporting Kansas City on Thursday, using the session to sharpen match sharpness before the team heads to Boston for a World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
The exercise will not be a full 90‑minute contest; instead it will be a short‑sided workout designed to give minutes to Dean Henderson, James Trafford, Jarrell Quansah, Dan Burn, Kobbie Mainoo, Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney, while forwards Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, Djed Spence and Marc Guehi had featured as substitutes in the Croatia game, with Rashford netting the fourth goal set up by Saka.
England will spend four days in Kansas City before boarding a flight to Boston, where they are scheduled to meet Ghana in a crucial Group B encounter. The pause in the MLS season has allowed Sporting Kansas City’s rebuilding side, overseen by sporting director David Lee, to host the English contingent; the club sits second‑last in the league with 11 points from 14 matches, yet still boasts forward Dejan Joveljic, who continues to represent Serbia on the international stage.
Tuchel has spoken about the value of giving the unused elements of his squad a chance to feel the intensity of a competitive environment, a plan that aligns with the broader preparation for the upcoming fixtures and the next phase of the tournament.